Lantern holder



A ril 13, 1965 J. 5. KIMOTO 3,178,144-

LANTERN HOLDER Filed March 20, 1963 iizaezgfor t/zzn flif'we UnitedStates Patent 3,178,144 LANTERN HOLDER John S. Kimotc, 3034 Van Buren StChicago, Ill. Filed Mar. 20, 1963, Ser. No. 266,626 4 Claims. (Cl.248-429) The invention relates generally to lamp supporting structures,and more particularly to a holder for lanterns or the like.

The invention has among its objects the production of a lantern holderwhich is relatively simple in construction and very eflicient inoperation, whereby the lantern may be supported from various shapedobjects to provide maximum flexibility in use.

Another object of the invention is the production of a lantern holderhaving novel mounting means whereby the mounting clamp or member may bepositioned in any one of a plurality of positions, the lanternsupporting structure being etIectively locked to the mounting member toprevent undesired movement of the lantern and permit the supportingmember to be readily detached from its mounting member when desired.

A further object of the invention is the production of such holder whichis provided with simple locking means effective to lock the lanternsupporting member in any one of its several positions, at the same timepermitting quick release thereof when desired and constructed to preventthe loss of any of the operating parts of the structure.

Many other objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious tothose skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like orcorresponding parts:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a holder embodying the presentinvention, illustrating a lantern carried therey;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mounting member illustrated in FIG.1 but on an enlarged scale to show the details thereof; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating a changedposition of the lantern supporting member with respect to its mountingmember.

The invention generally contemplates the production of a lantern holderhaving a member adapted to engage a portion of a lantern and support thelatter in operative position, the lantern supporting member beingcooperable with a mounting member, illustrated as constructed in theform of a C-clamp, engageable with the supporting member to support thesame in any one of several positions with respect to the mountingmember, whereby the latter may be mounted in any one of a plurality ofpo sitions as may be determined by the object to which it is to beattached. The mounting member is also provided with means for preventingundesired relative movement between the lantern supporting member andthe mounting member as well as locking means for preventing undesireddisengagement of the lantern supporting member with respect to themounting member.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, the referencenumeral 1 indicates generally a lantern supporting member which is ofgenerally L-shape, having a relatively short portion or leg 2 and arelatively long portion or leg 3, the free end of the latter leg beingadapted to be supported by a mounting member indicated generally by thenumeral 4 which may be suitably secured to the object from which thestructure is to be supported.

The leg 2 of the member 1 is suitably constructed to receive and supporta lantern 5, which is illustrated as being supported by the bail 6thereof hung up on the leg 2. The latter preferably is provided with oneor 3,178,144 Patented Apr. 13, 1965 more bends 7 therein adapted toreceive the bail 6 and prevent longitudinal movement of the bail alongthe leg 2.

In some cases, it may be desirable to provide additional means forholding the lantern in operative position, such means being illustratedin FIG. 1 and comprising a bracket member 8 slidably mounted on the leg3 of the supporting member and adapted to be locked thereto by suitablemeans such as a thumb or wing screw 9, the bracket having an arm 11extending laterally outward therefrom, terminating at its free end inopposed lantern engaging portions 12 between which the body of thelantern may be disposed. To facilitate proper adjustment of the arm 11,it may be slidably mounted in a socket 13 rigidly carried by the bracket8 and locked thereto .by a thumb screw 14.

Likewise, if desired, the leg 3 may also be employed for supporting asuitable reflector structure 15, illustrated as being provided with twopairs of clamping legs 16 adapted to receive the adjacent portions ofthe leg 3 therebetween and frictionally retain the reflector inoperative position.

The mounting member 4, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, is generallyC-shaped, having a pair of oppositely disposed portions 17 and 18connected adjacent corresponding ends by an intermediate portion 19.Threaded into the portion 17 is a clamping screw 21 having an objectengaging washer or disc 22 mounted on its free threaded end inopposition to the portion 18, whereby the mounting member may bedisposed on an object, with the latter extending between the portion 18and the clamping disc 22, and by turning the screw 21 the member 4 maybe rigidly clamped to the supporting object.

The member 4 is provided with two sockets 23 and 24, constructed in theform of tubular members, which are suitably rigidly secured to themounting member 4, as for example, by welding or the like, the member 23being mounted on the outer face of the intermediate portion 19 and thesocket 24 being mounted on the upper or outer face of the portion 18.

Each socket 23 and 24 is constructed with an inner diameter which isslightly larger than the external diameter of the leg 3 of thesupporting member 1, whereby the latter may be freely but snuglyreceived in either of the sockets, and it will be noted that, in theconstruction illustrated, the upper end of the socket 23 extends toapproximately the plane of the top face of the portion 18, while theadjacent end of the socket 24 extends to approximately the plane of theouter face of the intermediate portion 19.

To limit the insertion of the supporting member 1 into the sockets 23 or24, the leg 3 may be provided with suitable means such as a transverselyextending locking projection 25 illustrated as being in the form of apin and adapted to engage the adjacent end portion of the socketinvolved and to prevent relative rotation of the leg 3 of the supportingmember with respect to the mounting member 4, the adjacent ends of thesockets may be provided with notches 26 suitably disposed to receive thepin 25 and thus limit rotative movement of the supporting member.

Also cooperable with the pin 25 is locking member 27 illustrated asbeing constructed as being in the form of a pin or rod having anexternal diameter substantially the same as that of the supportingmember 1 and adapted to be inserted in the socket which is not beingemployed to secure the supporting member 1 to the mounting member 4.Thus in the construction illustrated in FIG. 2, the leg 3 of thesupporting member is disposed in the socket 23 and the member 27 isdisposed in the socket 24. It will be apparent that when the member 27is disposed as illustrated, it overlies the adjacent portion of the pin25 and thereby prevents movement of the leg 3 in a direction to Withdrawit from the socket 23, providing a very simple yet highly efiicient lockbetween the support ing member 1 and the mounting member 4. To preventloss of the member 27 it may be permanently connected with the mountingmember 4 by suitable means such as a chain 28 having one end suitablyfastened to an eye 29 rigidly mounted on the mounting member 4, and theopposite end secured to the member 27 by means of a ring 3-1 extendingthrough a suitable transversely extending bore in the adjacent end ofthe member. As illustrated, the ring 31 may be of a size to form alimiting stop or member engageable with the leg 3 or the socket to limitthe insertion of the member '27 in either of the sockets.

FIG. '3 illustrates the use of the socket 24 for supporting the member1, the pin 25, being disposed in the notches 26 in the socket 24 and thelock member 27 being disposed in the socket 23. In such position themember 27 again is engageable with the pin to restrict withdrawalmovement of the leg 3 from the socket 24, thereby insuring retention ofthe parts in operative position. As illustrated in FIG. 3, in the eventthe supporting member 1 is to extend in a horizontal position, the leg 3thereof may be provided adjacent the leg 2 with a bend 32 thereinadapted to receive the bail 6 of the lantern as indicated in brokenlines in FIG. 3, thereby preventing shifting of the bail along the leg 3of the supporting member when the latter is in such horizontal position.

In use, the mounting member 4 is attached to the object which is to beemployed to support the structure, the member 4 being oriented todispose the mounting member 1 in the desired position for suitablysupporting the lantern when the member 1 is inserted in one of thesockets 23 or 24. It will be apparent that the provision of the twosocketsenables the mounting member 1 to be disposed either horizontallyor vertically irrespective of whether the intermediate portion 19 of themounting member extends vertically or horizontally when attached to thesupporting object, and the pin 25 permits the leg portion 2 to bedisposed in either of two positions one hundred and eighty degrees apartto dispose the lantern in a desired position relative to the mountingmember 4.

It will also be noted that while the lock member 27 effectively locksthe supporting member 1 to the mounting member 4, the latter may bereadily disconnected from the mounting member by pulling out the member27 and withdrawing the leg 3 from its associated socket.

It will also be appreciated that while I have illustrated the use of aclamping mechanism, the holder may be suitably constructed forcooperation with any particular type of supporting object and anysuitable means to achieve the desired results may therefore besubstituted for the clamping structure illustrated.

It will also be noted that due to the construction of the bracket 8 andassociated structure, in the event it is not possible to dispose thesupporting member 1 With the leg 3 thereof extending vertically asillustrated, in the event the leg 3 is inclined with respect to thevertical, by suitable adjustment of the arm 11 with respect to thebracket 8 and of the latter with respect to the leg 3-, the lantern maybe effectively supported in a vertical position within the limits ofadjustment of the bracket 8.

It will be appreciated from the above description that I have provided anovel holder, particularly designed for lanterns or the like but whichmay accommodate other objects, which is exceedingly simple inconstruction yet highly efiicient in operation, providing a novellocking structure for retaining the parts in operative position andproviding a wide degree of flexibility in the disposition of themounting member on a supporting object.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that variousimmaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing fromthe spirit of my invention; hence I do not Wish to be understood aslimiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement andcombination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a lantern holder, the combination of a generally L-shaped lanternsupporting member including a relatively short lantern engageable legand a relatively longer supporting leg, a C-shaped mounting membercomprising oppositely disposed portions and an intermediate portion, oneof said oppositely disposed portions including clamping means thereonfor securing the G-shaped mounting member to a supporting object, saidC-shaped mounting member including slotted tubular means for receivingand supporting the free end of said relatively longer supporting leg ofthe lantern supporting member, cooperable locking means for detachablylocking said lantenrn supporting member to said C-shaped mounting memberto prevent undesired disconnection therebetween, said slotted tubularmeans adapted for mounting said lantern supporting member in either oftwo positions which are transverse to one another, said cooperablelocking means being constructed to be operatively detachably engagedwith the lantern supporting member aifixed to said O- shaped mountingmember for locking said lantern supporting member ineither of itspositions, said slotted tubular means constructed in the form of twosockets, in either of which the lantern supporting member may bereceived and supported, said cooperable locking means including a pin ofa size to be received and supported in either of said sockets, saidcooperable locking means including a locking projection carried by saidlantern supporting member and engageable with said pin to restrictdisengaging movement of said lantern supporting member relative to saidC-shaped mounting member, each of said sockets provided with a notch ofa size to receive said locking projection and cooperable therewith torestrict rotation of said lantern supporting member in said socket, saidnotches being so disposed in the respective sockets that the axis of thelocking projection when the lantern supporting member is disposed in oneof said sockets with the locking projection in the associated notch, theprojection will extend transversely to the axis of the other socket andto the axis of the locking pin disposed therein, and said longersupporting leg of said lantern supporting member operatively mounting anadjustable means adapted for operatively connecting to a lantern forrestricting lateral movement of .a lantern supported by the lanternsupporting member.

2. In a lantern holder, the combination of a generally L-shaped lanternsupporting member including a relatively short lantern engageable legand a relatively longer supporting leg, a C-shaped mounting membercomprising oppositely disposed portions and an intermediate portion, oneof said oppositely disposed portions including clamping means thereonfor securing the C-shaped mounting member to a supporting object, saidC-shaped mounting member including slotted tubular means for receivingand supporting the free end of said relatively longer supporting leg ofthe lantern supporting member, cooperable locking means for detachablylocking said lantern supporting member to said C-shaped mounting memberto prevent undesired disconnection therebetween, said slotted tubularmeans adapted for mounting said lantern supporting member in either oftwo positions which are transverse to one another, said cooperablelocking means being constructed to be operatively detachably engagedwith the lantern supporting member atfixed to said G-shaped mountingmember for locking said lantern supporting member in either of itspositions, said slotted tubular means constructed in the form of twosockets, in either of which the lantern supporting member may bereceived and supported, said cooperable locking means including a pin ofa size to be received and supported in either of said sockets, saidcooperable locking means including a locking projection carried by saidlantern supporting member and engageable with said pin to restrictdisengaging movement of said lantern supporting member relative to saidC-shaped mounting member, each of said sockets provided with a notch ofa size to receive said locking projection and cooperable therewith torestrict rotation of said lantern supporting member in said socket, saidnotches being so disposed in the respective sockets that the axis of thelocking projection when the lantern supporting member is disposed in oneof said sockets with the locking projection in the associated notch, theprojection will extend transversely to the axis of the other socket andto the axis of the locking pin disposed therein, and said longersupporting leg of said lantern supporting member operatively mountingreflector means adapted to be disposed in operative relation withrespect to said lantern.

3. In a lantern holder, the combination of a generally L-shaped lanternsupporting member including a relatively short lantern engageable legand a relatively longer supporting leg, a C-shaped mounting membercomprising oppositely disposed portions and an intermediate portion, oneof said oppositely disposed portions including clamping means thereonfor securing the C-shaped mounting member to a supporting object, saidC-shaped mounting member including slotted tubular means for receivingand supporting the free end of said relatively longer supporting leg ofthe lantern supporting member, cooperable locking means for detachablylocking said lantern supporting member to said G-shaped mounting memberto prevent undesired disconnection therebetween, said slotted tubularmeans adapted for mounting said lantern supporting member in either oftwo positions which are transverse to one another, said cooperablelocking means being constructed to be operatively detachably engagedwith the lantern supporting member aflixed to said C-shaped mountingmember for locking said lantern supporting member in either of itspositions, said slotted tubular means constructed in the form of twosockets. in either of which the lantern supporting member may bereceived and supported, said cooperable locking means including a pin ofa size to be received and supported in either of said sockets, saidcooperable locking means including a locking projection carried by saidlantern supporting member and engageable with said pin to restrictdisengaging movement of said lantern supporting member relative to saidC-shaped mounting member, each of said sockets provided With a notch ofa size to receive said locking projection and cooperable therewith torestrict rotation of said lantern supporting member in said socket, saidnotches being so disposed in the respective sockets that the axis of thelocking projection when the lantern supporting member is disposed in oneof said sockets with the locking projection in the associated notch, theprojection will extend transversely to the axis of the other socket andto the axis of the locking pin disposed therein, said relatively longersupporting leg including means engageable with the hail of the lanternto be supported when the relatively longer supporting leg of thegenerally L- shaped lantern supporting member extends in a generallyhorizontal position, and said means engageable with the hail of thelantern contiguous to the relatively short lantern engageable leg,whereby said generally L-shaped lantern supporting member is adapted forsupporting a lantern therefrom in the vertical or horizontal position ofsaid relatively longer supporting member upon being operativelypositioned in the respective vertical socket or horizontal socket.

4. As an article of manufacture, a lantern holder comprising a generallyL-shaped lantern supporting member including a relatively short lanternengageable leg and a relatively longer supporting leg, a mounting membercomprising oppositely disposed portions and an intermediate portionincluding clamping means thereon for securing the mounting member to asupporting object, said mounting member including slotted tubular meansfor receiving and supporting the free end of said relatively longersupporting leg of the generally L-shaped lantern supporting member,cooperable locking means complementally formed to said slotted tubularmeans for detachably locking said relatively longer supporting leg ofthe generally L-shaped lantern supporting member to said mounting memberto prevent undesired disconnection therebetween, said mounting memberbeing generally C- shaped and one of said oppositely disposed portionsprovided with a cooperable clamping screw whereby said mounting membermay be clamped between the other of said oppositely disposed portions ofsaid mounting member and said clamping screw, said slotted tubular meansadapted for mounting said generally L-shaped lantern supporting memberin either of two positions which are transverse to one another, saidcooperatable locking means complementally formed to said slotted tubularmeans including pin means complementally formed to said slotted tubularmeans providing locking means constructed to be operatively detachablyengaged with the slotted tubular means on said mounting member forlocking said generally L-shaped lantern supporting member in either ofits positions, said relatively longer supponting leg including meansengageable with the bail of the lantern to be supported when therelatively longer supporting leg of the generally L-shaped lanternsupporting member extends in a generally horizontal position, and saidmeans engageable with the hail of the lantern contiguous to therelatively short lantern engageable leg, whereby said generally L-shapedlantern supporting memher is adapted for supporting a lantern therefromin the vertical or horizontal position of said relatively longersupporting member upon being operatively positioned in the respectiveslotted tubular means for mounting said generally L-shaped lanternsupporting member in either of two positions which are transverse to oneanother.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 454,553 6/91Whitten 248207 X 1,110,190 9/14 Dodge 248-ll7.7 1,634,162 6/27 Tesk248289 X 2,269,790 1/42 Sherrill 248229 X 3,087,625 4/63 *Coon 2ll1033,096,961 7/63 Powell 248229 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Examiner.

1. IN A LANTERN HOLDER, THE COMBINATION OF A GENERALLY L-SHAPED LANTERNSUPPORTING MEMBER INCLUDING A RELATIVELY SHORT LANTERN ENGAGEABLE LEGAND A RELATIVELY LONGER SUPPORTING LEG, A C-SHAPED MOUNTING MEMBERCOMPRISING OPPOSITELY DISPOSED PORTIONS AND AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION, ONEOF SAID OPPOSITELY DISPOSED PORTIONS INCLUDING CLAMPING MEANS THEREONFOR SECURING THE C-SHAPED MOUNTING MEMBER TO A SUPPORTING OBJECT, SAIDC-SHAPED MOUNTING MEMBER INCLUDING SLOTTED TUBULAR MEANS FOR RECEIVINGAND SUPPORTING THE FREE END OF SAID RELATIVELY LONGER SUPPORTING LEG OFTHE LANTERN SUPPORTING MEMBER, COOPERABLE LOCKING MEANS FOR DETACHABLYLOCKING SAID LANTERN SUPPORTING MEMBER TO SAID C-SHAPED MOUNTING MEMBERTO PREVENT UNDESIRED DISCONNECTION THEREBETWEEN, SAID SLOTTED TUBULARMEANS ADAPTED FOR MOUNTING SAIS LANTERN SUP PORTING MEMBER IN EITHER OFTWO POSITIONS WHICH ARE TRANSVERSE TO ONE ANOTHER, SAID COOPERABLELOCKING MEANS BEING CONSTRUCTED TO BE OPERATIVELY DETACHABLY ENGAGEDWITH THE LANTERN SUPPORTING MEMBER AFFIXED TO SAID CSHAPED MOUNTINGMEMBER FOR LOCKING SAID LANTERN SUPPORTING MEMBER IN EITHER OF ITSPOSITIONS, SAID SLOTTED TUBULAR MEANS CONSTRUCTED IN THE FORM OF TWOSOCKETS, IN EITHER OF WHICH THE LANTERN SUPPORTING MEMBER MAY BERECEIVED AND SUPPORTED, SAID COOPERABLE LOCKING MEANS INCLUDING A PIN OFA SIZE TO BE RECEIVED AND SUPPORTING IN EITHER OF SAID SOCKETS, SAIDCOOPERABLE LOCKING MEANS INCLUDING A LOCKING PROJECTION CARRIED BY SAIDLANTERN SUPPORTING MEMBER AND ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID PIN TO RESTRICTDISENGAGEABLE MOVEMENT OF SAID LANTERN SUPPORTING MEMBER RELATIVE TOSAID C-SHAPED MOUNTING MEMEBER, EACH OF SAID SOCKETS PROVIDED WITH ANOTCH OF A SIZE TO RECEIVE SAID LOCKING PROJECTION AND COOPERABLETHEREWITH TO RESTRICT ROTATION OF SAID LANTERN SUPPORTING MEMBER IN SAIDSOCKET, SAID NOTCHES BEING SO DISPOSED IN THE RESPECTIVE SOCKETS THATTHE AXIS OF THE LOCKING PROJECTION WHEN THE LANTERN SUPPORTING MEMBER ISDISPOSED IN ONE OF SAID SOCKETS WITH THE LOCKING PROJECTION IN THEASSOCIATED NOTCH, THE PROJECTION WILL EXTEND TRANSVERSELY TO THE AXIS OFTHE OTHER SOCKET AND TO THE AXIS OF THE LOCKING PIN DISPOSED THEREIN,AND SAID LONGER SUPPORTING LEG OF SAID LANTERN SUPPORTING MEMBEROPERATIVELY MOUNTING AN ADJUSTABLE MEANS ADAPTED FOR OPERATIVELYCONNECTING TO A LANTERN FOR RESTRICTING LATERAL MOVEMENT OF A LANTERNSUPPORTED BY THE LANTERN SUPPORTING MEMBER.